Tour of city gives students an inside look at city

Modified: Wednesday, Mar 6th, 2013BY: TODD GUILD

Watsonville Mayor Lowell Hurst explains some of the basics of the city and how it functions to Watsonville High School ninth-graders Wednesday during a newly created Civics Tour. (Photos by Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian)

WATSONVILLE — The city of Watsonville has approximately 52,000 residents, with about 30 percent under the age of 18. While they cannot vote, they certainly have the power to enact change through civic participation.

That was the message from Watsonville Mayor Lowell Hurst to the Watsonville High School ninth-graders who toured several city facilities Wednesday.

The tour, called “Civics Day,” was conducted in cooperation with the city and Watsonville High School.

“This is the youth of our community,” Hurst said. “This is the future of our city.”

Hurst said it is essential for young people to learn about facilities such as the Watsonville Environmental Science Workshop and the Gene Hoularis and Waldo Rodriguez Youth Center, which he said could give them constructive activities. Equally important, however, is being aware of services such as the Police and Fire departments.